^o 



NO. IV. 



BRIEF STATE 



PROVINCE 



PENNSYLVANIA 



WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 



c 

NEW YORK: 
REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SABTN 

1865. 






200 copies printed on small paper. 
50 coj/ies on larye paper. 



No. 



-A 



RrVKRSIDE, cambridoe: 
PRINTED BY H. 0. HOCOHTON AND COMPANY. 







\ 



S^ 



A BR I EF 

STATE 

Of the Province of 

PEMMSTLVAN'IA. 



[ Price One Shilling. ] 



A BRIEF 

STATE 

F T H E 

PROVINCE 

O F 

PEJVJV'STLFANIJ, 

1 N w H I c H 

The Condu(5l of their Assemblies for feveral 
Years paft is impartially examined, and the 
true Caufe of the continual Encroachments of 
the French difplayed, more efpecially the fecret 
Defign of their late unwarrantable Invafion 
and Settlement upon the River Ohio. 

To which is annexed, 

An eafy Plan for reftoring Quiet in the public Mea- 
fures of that Province, and defeating the ambitious 
Views of the French in time to come. 

In a LETTER from a Gentleman who 
has refided many Years in Pennjyhania 
to his Friend in London. 

The Second Edition. 



L ND ON: 

Printed for R. Griffiths at the Dunciad^ in Pater- 
Nojhr-Row. 1755. 



[9] 



A BRIEF 

STATE 

Of the Province of 

PEJfJ^SYL VAKIA. 

Dear Sir, 

IN your laft, you was pleafed to defire fome 
Account of the State of Penn/ylvania, to- 
gether with the Reafons why we, who are ef- 
teemed one of the richeft Colonies in North 
America, are the moft backward in contributing 
to the Defence of the BritiJJi Dominions in 
thefe Parts, againft the prefent unwarrantable 
Invafions of the French ? As I have been 
many Years a Spedlator, and I think an impar- 
tial one, of the public Meafures purfued in this 
Province, I fhall very readily fatisfy your whole 
Defire. We are now in an alarming Situation, 
but we have brought the Evil upon ourfelves, 
and Things are now come to that Crifis, that if 

I 



[ lo] 
I was under no Obligation to fatisfy your Ex- 
pectations, yet I fhould deem my Silence an un- 
pardonable Negledl of the Duty I owe to my 
Country. — 

You were rightly informed when you were 
told that, of all the BritiJIi Colonies in North 
America, Pennfylvania is the moft flourifhing. 
Its Staple is chiefly Provifions, of which it pro- 
duces enough to maintain itfelf, and a Hundred 
thoufand Men befides. From the Port of Phil- 
adelphia, at leafl: 400 Sail of Veffels clear out 
annually. The Inhabitants are computed at 
about Two hundred and twenty thoufand, of 
whom, it is thought near one half are Germans. 
Of the Refidue not quite two Fifths are Quakers, 
Above that Number are Pre/by terians \ and the 
remaining Fifth are of the efiablijlid Church, 
with fome few Anabaptijls. 

The Legiflature is compofed of a Governor 
and AfTembly ; but the Council makes no Part 
of it. The AfTembly are chofen annually, and 
claim a Right, by Charter, to fit on their own 
Adjournment, without being prorogued or dif^ 
folved by their Governors, although the Attor- 
ney-General of England, and many other emi- 
nent Lawyers, have given their Opinion to the 
contrary. The Powers they enjoy are extraor- 
dinary, 



[ " ] 

dinary, and fome of them fo * repugnant, that 
they are the Source of the greateft Confufion in 
the Government, In order clearly to make this 
out, we muft look backward a confiderable num- 
ber of Years. 

As the Colony was firft fettled chiefly by 
Quakers, the Powers of Government refted for 
the moft Part in them ; which they conducted 
with great Mildnefs and Prudence, not having 
as yet conceived any Thoughts of turning Relig- 
ion into a political Scheme of Power. 

A great many Circumftances concurred to fix 
them in the good Opinion of the World. The 
Firft of this Profeftion ftrove to recommend 
themfelves by their ftri6l Honefty, and were a 
fober, thoughtful People. The civil Conftitu- 
tion was then in its Infancy, and its Principles 
found. No great Art was required in the Ad- 
miniftration of it, and no bad EfFeds were felt 
from the Extraordinary Privileges granted to 
the People, for the more expeditious Settlement 
of the Colony. 

Thofe who have made Politics their Study, 
know very well, that Infant-Settlements flourifh 

fafteft 

* In fome Inftances they have both a leg'tjlati've and execut't'ue 
Power. 



[ 12 ] 

fafteft under a Government leaning to the re- 
publican or popular Forms, becaufe fuch a Gov- 
ernment immediately interefts every Individual 
in the common Profperity, and fettles itfelf at 
once on a broad and firm Bafis. Moreover, the 
People being but few, and but fmall Profit in 
public Offices, the Government may alfo be ad- 
minifler'd without the Fadtion and Anarchy in- 
cident to popular Forms. But in Proportion as 
a Country grows rich and populous, more Checks 
are wanted to the Power of the People ; and 
the Government, by nice Gradations, fhould 
verge more and more from the popular to the 
mixt Forms. Thus it may happen that a Con- 
ftitution which fhall preferve Liberty and excite 
hidvjlry in any Country, during its Infancy, 
fhall be prejudicial to both, when Circumflances 
are altered. 

For thefe Reafons, a civil Conflitution can nei- 
ther be preferved nor completed, unlefs, in the 
Diflribution or Lodgment of Power, nice Regard 
is paid to all the Fluctuations in Trade, Property, 
and other Cafualties ; and fhould either Wifdom 
or Opportunities be wanting to adjufl the Con- 
ftitution to thefe Circumflances, it mufl fall nat- 
urally into Convulfions ; and, unlefs it is able to 
purge itfelf thro' the Strength of its Stamina, 
it muft linger into certain DifTolution. Upon 

thefe 



[ >3] 

thefe Principles, all the Flux and Revolutions 
of Empires may be accounted for. 

Now to apply thefe maxims to Pennfylvania. 
The Quakers^ as was hinted, could not fail to 
get Credit by their Adminiftration, under the 
above-mentioned Circumftances. Their Succef- 
fors, who were quite a different Sort of Men 
from the Founders of this Province, finding 
themfelves eftablifhed, quickly enlarged their 
Views, and have continued the Power in their 
own Hands till this Time, without leaving a 
Chance for thofe Struggles and Contentions 
about it, by means of which the Conftitution 
might have been purged, improved, and adapted 
to the Change of Circumftances. 

Thus, in dired Contradidion to the Rule 
laid down above, the People, inftead of being 
fubje6led to more Checks, are under fewer than 
at firft ; and their Power has been continually 
increafing with their Numbers and Riches, while 
the Power of their Governors, far from keeping 
Pace with theirs, has rather been decreafing in 
the fame Proportion ever fince. The Confe- 
quence of this is clear. The Government, in- 
ftead of drawing nearer to the niixt Forins^ as 
it ought in Proportion to its Growth, is now, in 
fad, more a pure Republic^ than when there 

were 



[ H] 
were not ten thoufand Souls in it. The Incon- 
veniencies of this we now begin to feel feverely, 
and they mufl; continually increafe with the 
Numbers of the People, till the Government 
becomes at lafl: fo unwieldly as to fall a Prey to 
any Invader, or fink beneath its own Weight, 
unlefs a fpeedy Remedy is applied. — 

Tho' many Circumstances concurred to bring 
us into this fad State, yet the chief Source of the 
Evil was what follows : 

In the Year 1723, the old Proprietor Wil- 
liam Penn, being lately dead, and his next Heirs, 
at Law among themfelves about the Govern- 
ment and Soil, Sir William Keith, who was 
then Governor, falling into the Hands of the Af- 
fembly, pafled a Law, giving them the fole Dif- 
pofal of all public Money, in manifeft Contempt 
of all the Inftrudions of the Proprietary Family. 

This entirely completed the Scheme of Power 
our Afiemblies had been long aiming at, by ren- 
dering all fucceeding Governors, and all the Of- 
ficers of the Province, dependent upon them ; 
for now they annually either vote or with-hold 
the Salaries of the Governor and all fuch Offi- 
cers, according as they are, or are not, the Creat- 
ures of the Afi'embly. And indeed moft of them 

muft 



[ 15] 

muft be fo ; for our Aflemblies have wrefted, 
out of the Hands of the Governor, the Nomi- 
nation of a great many of the * Officers that 
hold the moft lucrative Pofts in the Govern- 
ment. 

PoflefTed of fuch unreftrained Powers and 
Privileges, they feem quite intoxicated ; are fac- 
tious, contentious, and difregard the Proprietors 
and their Governors. Nay, they feem even to 
claim a kind of Independency of their Mother- 
Country, defpifing the Orders of the Crown, and 
refufing to contribute their Quota, either to the 
general Defence of America, or that of their 
own particular Province. 

As a glaring Inftance of the former, I need 
only mention their Oppofition to Governor 
Thomas, in raifing Soldiers to fend againft the 
Spaniards in the Wejl-htdies, and their abfolute 
Refufal to contribute a Farthing for that Ser- 
vice. Since that Time, during the whole Courfe 
of the late War, they have often been called 
upon by the Crown, and by Governor SJiirlcy 
of the MaJ/achu/ets, for the Expedition againft 
Cape-Breton, &c. To all which, if they have 

at 

* Such as the Provincial Treafurer ; the Truftees of the Loan- 
Office ; the Colleftor of the Excife, Bronder of Flour, Bronder of 
Beef and Pork, Health Officer, fefr. 



[ I^] 

at any Time contributed, it has been done indi- 
redly, and in a Manner fhameful to this rich 
Province; fo grudgingly, and in fuch fmall Sums, 
as rather to hurt than ferve the common Caufe. 

Forgetful of the public Good, they feem 
wholly to have employed themfelves in grafp- 
ing after Power, altho' it is plain they have al- 
ready too much of this, and fuch as is really 
inconfiftent and felf-deftrudlive. 

Nor have they been more attentive to the De- 
fence of their own particular Province, than of 
his Majefty's American Dominions, in general. 

In Pennfylvania, we have but one fmall For- 
tification, and that raifed and fupported at the 
Expence of private People. The Proprietors, 
indeed, generoufly made us a Prefent of twelve 
large Cannon, part of the twenty-fix we have 
mounted, and they have alfo given the Gunner 
of the Fort a Salary of twenty Voundi?, per An- 
num towards his Support f. We are otherwife 

entirely 

t The honourable Proprietors alfo propofed to our AfTembly 
five years ago, That if the Affembly would give Money for build- 
ing a Strong-Houfe on the Ohio (not venturing to call it Fort, or 
any Thing that implied Defence) they, the faid Proprietors would, 
on their Part, contribute any reafonable Proportion to the build- 
ing and fupporting of the faid Strong-Houfe. But this Propofal, 

like 



[ >/] 

entirely naked, without Arms or Ammunition, 
and expofed to every Invafion, being under no 
Obligation to military Duty. In the laft War, 
one of the Spanijli Privateers came up the Dela- 
ware, within a itv^ Miles of this City; and when 
thofe, who were not Quakers^ took the Alarm, 
and aflbciated themfelves for the Defence of the 
Country, they not only received no Encourage- 
ment from the AfTembly, but were abufed and 
reproached for their Pains, and the Dttiek or 
Germans kept back from joining in the Aflbcia- 
tion, by all pofTible under-hand Pradlices. 

The Frenc/i, well apprized of this defencelefs 
and disjointed State, and prefuming on the re- 
ligious Principles of our ruling People, have, 
the Year before laft, invaded the Province, and 
have adlually three Forts, now ere(5led far within 
the Limits of it. Juftly, therefore, may we pre- 
fume that, as foon as War is declared, they will 
take PofTeffion of the whole, fince they may 
really be faid to have ftronger Footing in it than 
we, having three Forts in it fupported at public 
Expence, and we but one fmall Fort, fupported 
only by private Gentlemen. 

'Tis 

like many others, was rejefted with Scorn, merely, perhaps, becaufe 
it came from the Proprietors ; nor was it fo much as thought wor- 
thy of a Place in their Minutes ; though it is clear, if it had been 
complied with, the French had not now been fortified in the fame 
River, as they now arc. 
3 



[ '8] 
'Tis true our Neighbours, the Virginians^ 
have taken the Alarm, and called on our AfTift- 
ance to repell the common Enemy, knowing 
that if the French hold Footing in Pennfylva- 
nia, their Turn muft be next. In like manner, 
the feveral Governors, and ours among the reft, 
have received his Majefty's gracious Orders to 
raife Money, and the armed Force of their re- 
fpedlive Governments on fuch an Emergency ; 
and had thefe Orders been complied with laft 
Winter, the French would neither have been 
able to drive the Virginians from the Fort they 
had begun in the back Parts of Pennfylvania^ 
nor yet to get PofTefTion of one third Part of the 
Province, which they now have undoubtedly got 
thro' the Stubbornefs and Madnefs of our Af- 
femblies. 

But here two Queftions will naturally arife. 

1. Why are our AfTemblies againft defending 
a Country, in which their own Fortunes and Ef- 
tates lie, if it is really in Danger ? 

2. Why have not the feveral Sums been ac- 
cepted, which they have offered for the King's 
Ufe? 

With regard to the firft, it may feem a Sole- 

cifrn 



[ '9] 
cifm in Politics, for a People not to defend their 
own Property when it is adlually invaded^ unlefs 
they were certain of the Friendship of the In- 
vaders. 

I ihail not, however, be fo uncharitable as to 
fuppofe our political Quakers reckon it indiffer- 
ent, whether, or not, the French fhall make them- 
felves Maifers of this Province, notwithflanding 
Perfons at a Diflance may be apt to judge fo for 
the following Reafons. i/?, From the contin- 
ued Refufal of our AfTemblies to defend the 
Province. 7.dly^ From the extraordinary Indul- 
gence and Privileges granted to Papijls in this 
Government : — Privileges plainly repugnant to 
all our political Interefls, confidered as a Fron- 
tier-Colony, bordering on the French^ and one 
half of the People an uncultivated Race of Ger- 
mans^ liable to be feduced by every enterprizing 
Jefuit, having almofl no Proteflant Clergy among 
them to put them on their Guard, and warn them 
againfl Popery. 

Tho' this might be infinuated, yet from Ob- 
fervation I have Reafon to believe, that mofl of 
the Quakers without Doors are really againft 
Defence from Confclence and their religious 
Tenets ; but for thofe within Doors, I cannot 
but afcribe their Condudl rather to Interefl than 
Confcience. 

Our 



[20] 

Our Aflemblles apprehend, that as foon as they 
agree to give fufficient Sums for the regular De- 
fence of the Country, it would ftrike at the Root 
of all their Power, as Quakers, by making a 
Militia-Law needful, in Time of Danger. Such 
a Law, they prefume, would alter the whole face 
of Affairs, by creating a vaft Number of new 
Relations, Dependencies, and Subordinations in 
the Government. The Militia, they fuppofe, 
would all vote for Members of Aflembiy, and be- 
ing dependent on their Officers, would probably 
be influenced by them. The Officers, again, as 
they imagine, would be influenced by the Gov- 
ernment; and thus the Quakers fear they would 
foon be out-voted in moft Places. For this 
Caufe, they will fufler the Country to fall into 
the lafl; Extremity, hoping that when it is fo, our 
Neighbours will, for their own Sakes, defend it, 
without obliging them to pafs a Law, which, 
they fear, would fo foon ftrip them of their dar- 
ling Power. But this Backwardnefs of theirs 
has quite a contrary Eff^edt; for the neighbour- 
ing Colonies, feeing this Colony, that is imme- 
diately attacked, doing nothing, refufe to exert 
themfelves for a People, who are able, but un- 
willing, to defend themfelves. 

Thus much in anfwer to the firjl Quef- 
tion. 

With 



[21 ] 

With regard to the fccond, little need be faid 
to fhew why the Monies they have offered for 
the King's Service never could be accepted of 
For while they have the forefaid Apprehenfions 
from a Law for the Defence of the Country, it 
muft be plainly repugnant to their Intereft, ever 
to offer Money for this Purpofe, unlefs in fuch 
a Manner as they know to be inconfiftent with 
the Duty of a Governor to pafs their Bill into a 
Law. This will be fully underflood from what 
follows, which will alfo fhew by what Means 
they fave Appearances among the People, with- 
out doing any Thing for the Public. 

There was a royal Inftrudion fent to all the 
EngliJJi Governors in America^ upon the hum- 
ble Addrefs of the Lords and Commons, fignify- 
ing. That under Pain of his Majefly's highefl 
Difpleafure, they fhall not pafs any A6t for the 
EmifTion of Paper-Money, without a fufpending 
Claufe, that it fhall not take Effedl till his Maj- 
efly's Pleafure is known. Since that Time, upon 
Petition of the chief Merchants in England, an 
A61 of Parliament was pafTed, entirely reftrain- 
ing the four New-England Colonies from emit- 
ting any Paper-Bills at all, except in the Cafe of 
an Invafion, or fome great Emergency, and then 
the fame to be funk in a few Years. But the 
Southern Provinces flill continue under the 
Force ot the Inftrudion. 

Our 



[22] 

Our late Governor, Mr. Hamilto7i, upon re- 
ceiving his Majefty's Orders to arm the Prov- 
ince, folicited the Aflembly laft Winter, to raife 
Money, and enable him to pay a proper Obe- 
dience to the royal Commands ; but they to- 
tally difregarded him, and adjourned themfelves. 
Upon receiving an Account that the French had 
driven the Virginians from their Fort, he again 
called the Aflembly, conjured them to obey his 
Majefliy's Orders, and demonftrated the imminent 
Danger to which their Refufal would expofe not 
only themfelves, but all the BritiJJi Colonies. 
He at the fame Time let them know, that tho' 
his Inftrudlions reftrained him from pafling any 
Paper-Money at all without a fufpending Claufe, 
yet, in the prefent prefling Emergency, he would 
rifque it, provided they would vote handfomely, 
and fmk it within the Time prefcribed by A61 
of Parliament, in the Cafe of Ncw-Engla7id. 
Then, and not till then, they voted 10,000/. for 
his Majefty's Ufe, redeemable by the Excife in 
twelve Years, for which Time the Bills were to 
be funk annually in equal Proportions. 

In that Space the Excife would raife 45,000/. 
viz. 10,000/ for the King's Ufe, and the remain- 
ing 35,000/ would have been at their own Dif- 
pofal for what Ufes they might think fit. 

The 



[23] 

The Governor, therefore, juftly confidered, 
that if he ihould pafs this Bill, it would be giv- 
ing the Government out of his Hands, and ren- 
dering himfelf and his SuccefTors entirely unne- 
ceflary in the Adminiftration for twelve Years. 
It would be putting 35,000/. into the Hands of 
the Aflembly, ftill more to increafe their Power, 
and lay out in Schemes to abridge the Powers 
of their Proprietors and Governors ; for tho' the 
Preambles to all our Money-A6ls, and to the 
Excife, fay that the Intereft-Money, and what 
arifes from the Excife, are to be applied to the 
Support of Government; yet they apply it as 
they pleafe, viz. to diftrefs all who oppofe their 
Meafures, and for building Hofpitals, purchafing 
Lands, Libraries, &c. 

For thefe Reafons, and confidering alfo that 
the Money was to continue feven Years longer 
than the A61 of Parliament allows, the Governor 
refufed his AfTent ; upon which they adjourned, 
altho' they knew very well before they propofed 
the Bill, that he could not give his AfTent, with- 
out incurring his Majefty's highefl Difpleafure. 

Upon the News of Wa/Imigtons Defeat, laft 
Summer, the Governor again fummoned them, 
and intreated them to confider the melancholy 
Situation of Ajfiairs, and fall upon Ways and 

Means 



[24] 
Means to repel the Enemy, confiftent with his 
Duty to pafs it; he having, in the mean Time, 
received Sir Diidley Riders Opinion, that he 
could not, w^ith Safety to himfelf, pafs fuch an 
A6t as they wanted. They then voted him 
15,000/. to be raifed exa6tly as before, being 
certain the Governor could not venture to pafs 
it. Accordingly, upon his Refufal, they again 
adjourned, and to intimidate other Governors 
from daring to difpute their Commands, with- 
held his yearly Salary. 

Mr. Hamilton, a Gentleman of great Honor, 
Probity, and good Senfe, having for fome Time 
forefeen, that with fuch an obilinate and perverfe 
People, he could never, as Governor, enjoy Eafe 
to himfelfj nor be in a Capacity either to obey 
the King's Inftrudlions, or be of any real Ser- 
vice to the Province his native Country, had 
wrote over to the Proprietors to fend him a Suc- 
cefTor, afluring them he would no longer con- 
tinue to adl as Governor. 

Upon the Appointment of the Proprietors, he 
was accordingly fucceeded by the Hon. Robert 
Hunter Morris^ Efq ; 

This Gentleman, upon his coming into the 
Government, immediately fpoke, in the mofl; 

pathetic 



pathetic Terms, to the new AfTembly, compofed 
of the old Members. — 

After a fhort Adjournment, they met and of- 
fered a Bill for 20,000 /. conceived in the fame 
Terms as before, viz. to make the Paper-Money 
extend for twelve Years, though the new Gov- 
ernor had told them before-hand, that he was 
fubjedled to the fame Inftrudions as his Prede- 
cefTors, and could not pafs any fuch Bill into a 
Law. 

Thus their whole Condudl has been of a Piece 
in this Country, tho' I am well afTured it is very 
much difapproved of and condemned by their 
Brethren the Quakers in England^ who are juftly 
efteem'd a quiet and upright People, fuch as we 
already obferv'd the firft Quakers in this Prov- 
ince were. It is very plain they have no mind 
to give a fmgle Shilling for the King's Ufe, un- 
lefs they can thereby increafe their own Power ; 
but they keep continually voting Money in or- 
der to keep the People on their Side, who not 
being well enough acquainted with the Nature 
of Government, to underftand why the Money- 
Bills cannot be pafTed, think every fuch Rejec- 
tion of a Money-Bill, a Defign againft their 
Liberties, and throw the whole Blame upon 
their Proprietors and Governors, treatiiig their 
-<■ Names 



[26] 

Names in the moft infolent and contemptuous 
Manner. 

Hence it is that this Province is reduced to 
the moft miferable Condition. — The People at 
Variance, and diftruftful of each other ! A 
Fre7ich Enemy and their Savage Allies ad- 
vanced far into our Territory ! The People on 
our Frontiers liable to be murdered or driven 
from their Habitations ! Our Lives and all our 
facred Rights expofed an eafy Prey! — And all 
this owing to the Infatuation and deteftable 
Policy of a Set of Men who mind no Confe- 
quences, provided they can fecure their own 
Power and their Seats in the Aftembly. 

A Petition from a Thoufand of thefe poor 
Families, who inhabit the back Parts of the 
Colony, was prefented to the Aflembly, laft Ati- 
guji^ foon after IVa/Jiingtons Defeat, praying 
that they might be furnifhed with Arms and 
Ammunition for their Defence ; but the Petition 
was rejeded with Scorn. Our Indian Allies 
have often defired us to build Forts, to which 
their Wives and Children might fly in time of 
Danger, and have juft * now fent down to the 
Governor, begging he would diredl the Building 
a Stockade, or wooden Fort, in which they offer 

to 

* December 1754. 



[ 27] 
to defend themfelves and us, from the Incurfions 
of the Enemy ; but the AfTembly, to be confift- 
ent with themfelves, and fhew that they are re- 
ligioufly bent on the Ruin of their Country, re- 
fufed to give any Money for this Purpofe, and 
gave the Indians for Anfwer, that if they were 
afraid of the Enemy, they might retire farther 
down, and come within the fettled Parts of the 
Province. 

Thus the noblefl Opportunity was loft that 
could have been offered, of keeping our India^is 
fteady, and for building a Fort at a fmall Ex- 
pence, in a Pafs fo commodioufly fituated be- 
tween the Mountains, that it would have efFedl- 
ually covered and defended two of our Frontier 
Counties, from the inroads of the French and 
their Indians. 

From what has been faid, it clearly appears 
how much we fufFer by having all public Mon- 
ies in fuch Hands. Were the Cafe otherwife, 
Matters might be managed with Secrefy, Eafe, 
Expedition, Succefs, and a fmall Expence, by 
embracing the proper Opportunities. But thefe 
Opportunities, being once loft, are often never 
to be recalled, as is too well confirmed by the 
Settlements of the French at Croiuii-Point and 
on the Ohio^ both which might have been pre- 
vented 



[28] 

vented at firft, with one fiftieth Part of the Ex- 
pence it will now take to diflodge them, had not 
the Hands of all our Governors been tied up, by 
having the Difpofal of no Monies on fuch Emer- 
gencies, nor any Hopes of obtaining it from our 
Aflemblies, if they fhould advance any Sums for 
the public Service. 

But here it may be juftly afked. By what 
means the Quakers^ who are fo fmall a Part of 
the Inhabitants, and whofe Meafures are fo un- 
popular, get continually chofen into our Aflem- 
blies ? 

Before the late SpMiiJJi War, a confiderable 
Number of our AfTembly were of other Denom- 
inations ; but at that Time being called upon by 
Governor Thomas^ to arm for their own De- 
fence, and the Annoyance of his Majefty's Ene- 
mies, they were alarmed with the Profpedl of 
lofing their Power, if they fhould comply, as 
was fhewn above ; and therefore they entered 
into Cabals in their yearly Meeting, which is 
convened juft before the Eledlion, and being 
compofed of Deputies from all the monthly 
Meetings in the Province, is the fineft Scheme 
that could polTibly be projedled, for conducing 
political Intrigues, under the Mafk of Religion. 
They likewife had Recourfe to a German Print- 
er, 



[^9] 

cr, who was once one of the French Prophets 
in Germany^ and is fhrewdly fufpedled to be a 
Popijli Emiflary, who now prints a News- Pa- 
per entirely in the German Language, which is 
univerfally read and beUeved by the Germans 
in this Province. This Man, whofe Name is 
Sailer^ they took into their Pay, and by his 
Means told the Germans there was a Defign to 
enflave them ; to force their young Men to be 
Soldiers, make them ferve as Pioneers, and go 
down to work upon our Fortifications ; — that 
a military Law was to be made, infupportable 
Taxes to be laid upon them, and in a Word, 
that all the Miferies they fuffered in Germany^ 
with heavy Aggravations, would be their Lot, 
unlefs they joined to keep in the Quakers, un- 
der whofe Adminiftration they had fo long en- 
joyed Eafe and Tranquillity; and to force out 
of the Aflembly, all thofe who were like to join 
the Governor, in giving Money for annoying 
the Enemy. 

In confequence of this, the Germans, who had 
hitherto continued peaceful, without meddling 
in Elections, came down in Shoals, and carried 
all before them. Near 1800 of them voted in 
the County of Philadelphia, which threw the 
Balance on the Side of the Quakers, thouefh 
their Opponents, in that grand Struggle, voted 

near 



[30] 
near 500 more than ever loft an Eledtion be- 
fore. 

The Quakers having found out this Secret, 
have ever fince excluded all other Perfuafions 
from the AfTembly, conftantly calling in the 
Germa7is to their Aid, by means of this Printer. 

But the keeping the Quakers in, is not the 
worft Confequence of thefe infidious Pra6lices 
with the Gerjnans. The bad Effedls of it will 
probably be felt thro' many Generations. — The 
Germans, inftead of being a peaceable induftri- 
ous People as before, now finding themfelves of 
fuch Confequence, are grown infolent, fullen, 
and turbulent ; in fome Counties threatening 
even the Lives of all who oppofe their Views. 
The Quakers, in order to keep them from tak- 
ing up Arms in Defence of the Province, or 
joining in Elections with their Opponents, have 
much alienated their Affedlions from the Gov- 
ernment, by telling them there is a Defign againft 
their Liberties. They are taught to have but 
one and the fame Idea for Government and Sla- 
very. All who are not of their Party they call 
Governors-Men, in Derifion. They give out 
that they are a Majority, and ftrong enough to 
make the Country their own ; and indeed, as 
they are poured in upon us in fuch Numbers 

(upwards 



[31 ] 
(upwards of 5000 being imported this laft Year) 
I know nothing that will hinder them, either 
from foon being able to give us Law and Lan- 
guage, or elfe, by joining with the French, to 
ejedl all the EngliJJi Inhabitants. 

That this may be the Cafe, is too much to be 
feared, fince, as I remarked already, they refufed, 
almoft to a Man, to bear Arms in the Time of 
the late War. They fay it is all one to them 
which King gets the Country, fince, if they re- 
main quiet, they will be permitted to enjoy their 
Eftates, under the Conqueror, whoever he is ; 
and as they have, many of them, lived under 
PopiJJi Rulers before in their own Country, they 
give out that they know the worft that can hap- 
pen. 

And, indeed, it is clear that the French have 
turned their Hopes upon this great Body of Ger- 
mans. They have now got PofTefiion of the 
vaft and exceeding fruitful Country upon the 
Ohio^ juft behind our German Settlements. 
They know our Germans are extremely igno- 
rant, and think a large Farm the greateft Bleff- 
ing in Life. Therefore, by fending their Jefic- 
itical EmifTaries among them, to perfuade them 
over to the Popi/Ji Religion, they will draw them 
from the EngliJJi^ in Multitudes, or perhaps lead 

them 



[32] 
them in a Body againft us. This is plainly a 
Scheme laid by the French many Years ago, 
and uniformly purfued till this Time, with the 
greateft Addrefs ; being the true Caufe of their 
continual Encroachments, and holding their 
Countries by Forts, without fettling them. 
When they come near enough to have Com- 
munication with our Germans^ it will be much 
more their Intereft to plant their Colonies, by 
offering the faid Germans eafy Settlements, than 
by bringing new Hands from Furope ; for by 
fuch Means they not only get an AccefTion of 
People who are accuftomed to the Country, but 
alfo weaken us, in Proportion as they ftrengthen 
themfelves. 

That now is the Time they propofe to put 
their grand Scheme in Execution is too evident. 
They are already fo near us, that the French 
Camp, and their Forts upon the Ohio and the 
Parts adjacent, are not more than 225* Miles, 
horizontal Diftance, from the City of Philadel- 
phia, and only about two Days March from 
fome of our back Settlements. By Accounts 
received laft Week, they have 2000 effedlive || 

Men 

[| Extra£l of a Letter, dated Philadelphia, January 2. 1755. 

SIR, 
" Since my laft, we have five Days ago received certain Intelli- 
" gence that a Body of nigh Six Thoufand of the best Troops of 

" France, 



[ 33 ] 

Men in thefe Parts, together with a great Body 
oi Indians at their Beck. 

Now there is no Way of preventing thefe 
dreadful Misfortunes with which we are threat- 
ened, but to open the Eyes of the Gerjnans to 

their 

" France, (elefted and fent over upon this particular Service, are 
" juft arrived at the lower Fort upon the Ohio, and are employed, 
"even in this rigorous Seafon, in fortifying that Country. In Sep- 
" tember laft, the French Men of War that brought them over 
" were feen not far from the Entrance into the River St. Lau- 
" rence, into which we are now certain they went, and landed at 
*' Sluehec. After a fhort Stay in that City, they were feen by our 
" Indian -Traders paffing the Lakes, 0/iuego and Erie, in a pro- 
" digious Number of Battoes, of which the feveral Governors re- 
" ceived notice, though we did not then conjefture that it was an 
" Armament from Old France, till now that we are too certain of 
"it. 

" Notwithftanding of this, our Aflembly continues as obftinate 
" as ever ; nor have we as yet any Probability of their giving any 
" Money for our Defence, although we hear they are to adjourn in 
" two Days. The Governor has befeeched them to confider the 
" defencelefs State of the Province, and eftablifh a regular Militia, 
" but in vain. He alfo obferves, that the Aftivity of the French at 
" this rigorous Seafon cannot but convince the World, that they 
" have formed fome grand Defign with regard to this Continent, 
" and that they have made their firft Attack upon Pennfylnjania, 
" as being in the Center, and being not only the moll plentiful, but 
" the moft defencelefs and unwieldy of all his Majefty's Colonies. 
" Having once got Footing here, they will iflue forth upon the 
" other Colonies on either Side ; and as they have fuch a large 
" Body already in the Field, we apprehend it is their Defign early 
" in the Spring to fortify the Paffes in the Mountains ; and if they 
" accomplilli this, and can find Provifions, they will be able to 
" ftand againft three Times their Numbers." 
S 



L34] 
their true Interefts, and foften this ftubborn 
Genius of theirs, by means of Injirunion. 
Faithful Proteftant Minifters, and School-maf- 
ters, fhould be fent and fupported among them, 
to warn them againft the Horrors of PopiJJi Sla- 
very ; to teach them found Principles of Gov- 
ernment, and inftrud their Children in the Eiig- 
liJJi Tongue, and the Value of thofe Privileges 
to which they are born among us. If this can 
be done, and the French driven from the Ohio^ 
fo as to have no Communication with our f Ger- 
mans for twenty or thirty Years, till they are 
taught the Value of the Proteftant Religion, 
underftand our Language, and fee that they have 
but one Intereft with us ; they will for the fu- 
ture bravely fight for their own Property, and 
prove an impregnable Barrier againft the En- 
emy. 

But as if it had been decreed by Fate, or the 
evil Genius of the Quakers, that they fhould 
never have the fame Intereft with their Country 
in a fingle Inftance, it is a Part of their Policy 
alfo to oppofe every Scheme for inftrudting and 

making 

+ This fuppofes alfo that a Stop be put to the Importation of 
Germans into this Province, and that the Migration be turned from 
us ; for if new Hands are continually brought in, and the old Fam- 
ilies go back to other Colonies, as they do at prefent, whenever 
they begin to get a little Money, and know fomething of our Lan- 
guage, we fiiall never make Englijhmen of them. 



[35] 
making EnglifJime^t of the Germans. In order 
to keep their Seats in the Aflembly, they have 
not only, as I have fhewn, fufFered the French 
to fix themfelves on the Ohio\ they have not 
only corrupted the Principles of the Gcrmaiis ; 
but, to be confident with their Intereft, they 
muft ftrive to keep thefe poor People in the fame 
dark State, into which they have endeavoured 
to fink them. For they know, that if the Gei'- 
mans were infl:rud:ed fo as to be capable of ufing 
their own Judgment in Matters of Government, 
they would no more be mifled by the Arts of 
a Quaker Preacher, than of a lurking Fre7ich 
Prieft. 

Hence it is that, by means of their hireling 
Printer, they reprefent all regular Clergymen as 
Spies and Tools of State, telling the People 
they muft not regard any Thing their Minifters 
advife concerning Eledions, fince they have a 
Scheme to eledt Men who will bring in a Bill 
for giving the Tenths to the Clergy, as in fome 
other Countries. It is needlefs to obferve that 
no fuch Law can ever be made here, as being 
repugnant to Charter ; for our Quakers, though 
they never fwear, ftick not gravely to affirm and 
adhere to any Falfhood whatever, provided it 
will fupport them in their darling Schemes for 
Power. 

There 



[36] 

There is nothing they more fear than to fee 
the Germans pay any Regard to regular Minif- 
ters. Whenever they know of any fuch Min- 
ifter in good Terms with his People, they im- 
mediately attack his Charadler by means of this 
Printer, and diftrefs him by dividing his Congre- 
gation, and encouraging Vagabonds and pre- 
tended Preachers, whom they every now and 
then raife up. This ferves a double End. 

Firft, According to the Maxim, divide & im- 
pcra — it prevents the People from joining in 
any new Defign, and hinders any Minifter from 
ever having Influence enough to fet them right 
at the annual Eledlions. 

Secondly, By difcouraging regular Minifters, 
it gives the Quakers an Opportunity of making 
more Profelytes. 

This is the true Reafon why the moft confid- 
erable and wealthy Sed among the Germans^ is 
the Mcnonijls, whofe Principles are much the 
fame with thofe of the Quakers ; for they hold 
it unlawful to take Oaths, or bear Arms. Thus 
encouraged by our ruling Men, this Se6l has a 
great Influence among the Germans, and the 
Menonijis are daily increafing by the Converts 
they make by their great Wealth, which gives 

them 



[37] 

them an Opportunity of paying the Paflages of 
their poor Countrymen, who indent themfelves 
to ferve four Years for the Money thus advanced 
for them. 

Befides thefe, there are near one Fourth of the 
Germans fuppofed to be Roman Catholics, who 
cannot be fuppofed Friends to any Defign for 
defending the Country againft the Fraich. 
Many are alfo Moravians, who, as they conceal 
their Principles, are fufpeded to be a dangerous 
People, more efpecially as they hold fome Ten- 
ets and Cuftoms, as far we have any Opportu- 
nity of judging of them, very much a-kin to 
thofe of the Roman Catholics. There are alfo 
many other Seds fpringing up among the Ger- 
mans \ which it would be tedious to name, but 
moft of them are principled againft bearing 
Arms. 

I have faid enough to fhew that never was 
any Country in a more diftreffed Condition than 
this ; and tho' it has flourifhed in an extraordi- 
nary Degree, as it could not fail to do, when it 
was young, and all thefe feveral Sedls employed 
only in eftablifhing themfelves; yet now, when 
they are grown to Wealth and Maturity, and 
are not fo neceflarily employed in their private 
Concerns, they will turn their Thoughts to the 

Public, 



[38] 
Public, or perhaps againft one another ; and 
thence the utmoft Confufion muft enfue, if a 
timely Remedy is not applied, and more Checks 
contrived to balance their increafing Strength 
than were neceflary at firft. 

I am forry it has fallen to my Lot to trace all 
our growing Miferies to the mifchievous Policy 
of my Fellow-Subjedls, the Quakers, who regard 
no Confequences, but holding their own Ground. 
Truth and Duty obliged me to take up my Pen. 
We have been too long filent, and had this Rep- 
refentation been made, as it ought to have been, 
many Years ago, we had not now been in fuch 
calamitous Circumftances. 

I muft, however, in Juftice obferve that there 
have been fome honeft Spirits always among 
us, who have left nothing unattempted for the 
Redemption of their Country. Even as late as 
laft O£lober^ tho' they knew it was ftriving againft 
the Stream, thofe Perfons made a noble Effort 
to convince the Ger7nans of our common Dan- 
ger, and induce them to join in the Choice of 
Men who would defend the Province, and pay 
fome Deference to his Majefty's Inftru6lions. 
They reminded the Germans^ that at their Nat- 
uralization, they had folemnly engaged to defend 
his Majefty's Perfon and Government againft all 

his 



[39] 

his Enemies ; and that, in cafe of Refufal, they 
would be guilty of Perjury. But all was in 
vain. The Quakers held them immoveable, by 
their ufual Infinuations ; and we might as foon 
have attempted to preach the ftormy Element 
into a Calm, as, by Reafoning, to refcue thefe 
poor deluded Germans^ out of the Hands into 
which they are fallen. 

Neverthelefs thefe worthy Perfons imagined 
it their Duty to exert themfelves, not only to 
convince the Quakers that their Meafures were 
difapproved of by the better Part of their Fel- 
low-Citizens, but alfo to fatisfy the Government 
of England that there are ftill many in this 
Place, who have not banifhed all ImpreifTions of 
Loyalty and Duty from their Breafls. 

I can, however, now fee no Remedy left among 
ourfelves. We muft look to our Mother-Coun- 
try for Succour, and if it is not fpeedily granted, 
this noble Province feems irrecoverably loft. We 
fhall be driven from thefe beloved Habitations, 
or elfe forced to fubmit once more, not only to 
civil Slavery, but to Perfecution, and that relig- 
ious Slavery, from which many of our Anceftors 
left the Land of their Nativity, and fat down in 
thefe diftant uncultivated Places, amidft the Hor- 
rors of the howling Wildernefs ! 

Yet 



[40] . 

Yet defperate as our Cafe is here, a Remedy 
in England is eafy. Let the Parliament but 
make a Law to the following EfFe6l : 

1. To oblige all thofe who fit in Afiembly to 
take the Oaths of Allegiance to his Majefty, and 
perhaps a Teft or Declaration that they will not 
refufe to defend their Country againft all his 
Majefty's Enemies. — This feems the fmalleft 
Teft of Fidelity that can be required from thofe 
to whom the Conftitution of their Country, and 
the facred Rights of their Fellow-Subjedts, are 
committed in Truft. 

2. To fufpend the Right of Voting for Mem- 
bers of Afiembly, from the Germans, till they 
have a fufficient Knowledge of our Language 
and Conftitution. — This Provifion is as reafon- 
able as the former. What can be more abfurd 
and impolitic, than to fee a Body of ignorant, 
proud, ftubborn Clowns (who are unacquainted 
with our Language, our Manners, our Laws, and 
our Interefts) indulged with the Privilege of 
Returning almoft every Member of Aflembly? 
Now a Courfe of about twenty Years would 
make them acquainted with all thefe Things, 
if, according to good Policy, we make it their 
Intereft fo to be, and give them the proper Op- 
portunities, as I am going to propofe. And 

unlefs 



[4> ] 
unlefs fomething is done this Way, we may in- 
cline them to fome bad Meafures, and never pro- 
cure that Coalition, which we defire, and which 
is fo much their Honour and Intereft. 

3. It will therefore be abfolutely necefTary to 
encourage Proteftant Minifters and School-maf- 
ters among them, as I hinted already, in order 
to reduce them into regular Congregations ; to 
inftrud: them in the Nature o{ free Government, 
the Purity and Value of the Proteftant Faith ; 
and to bind them to us by a common Language, 
and the Confcioufnefs of a common Intereft*. 

4. But after fuch a Provifion is made, it will 
alfo be neceflary, in order the more efFedually to 
induce the Germans to learn EngliJJi, not only 
to fufpend for a Time their Right of Voting for 
AfTembly-men, as by \k\t fecond Article, but alfo 
to make all Bonds, Contradls, Wills, and other 

legal 

* iV. 5. As a confiderable Progrefs is made in a Defign of this 
Nature, and a confiderable Sum collefted for it, by a generous and 
public-fpirited Society of Noblemen and Gentlemen in London, 
who are all Perfons of high Rank and Worth, the Parliament 
could not do a more effeftual Service to the Britijh Intereft in 
America, than to affift the faid Society, by making an annual Pro- 
vifion for inftrufting poor Germans in thefe Parts, for the Space of 
twenty or thirty Years, till they are brought into a regular State. 
Some Englijh Schools are already begun, and an excellent Scheme 
laid for their Government ; but without public Aid, it is feared 
the charitable Contributions of private Perfons, will prove utterly 
inadequate to fupport a Defign of fo great national Importance. 



[42] 

legal Writings void, unlefs in the EngUJIi 
Tongue. For want of fome Regulation of this 
Nature, the greateft Confufion is like to be in- 
troduced into our Laws, and Courts of Juftice. 

5*. That no News- Papers, Almanacks, or any- 
other periodical Paper, by whatever Name it 
may be called, be printed or circulated in a for- 
eign Language. Or, fhould this be deemed too 
fevere (which I think it cannot reafonably be) 
then it may be provided, that no fuch Publica- 
tion or Circulation be made, unlefs there be a juft 
and fair EjigliJJi Verfion of fuch a foreign Lan- 
guage, printed in one Column of the fame Page 
or Pages, along with the faid foreign Language. 

For want of fome fuch Regulation as this, 
continual Prejudices are propagated among the 
Germans, without our knowing it, or being able 
to remove them when they come to our Knowl- 
edge. 

Now a Law confifting of the five forefaid 
Provifions, or fomcthing equivalent, would ef- 
fedually refcue us from all the fad Train of Ca- 
lamities I have pointed out ; and without fuch 
Means, I fee nothing to prevent this Province 
from falling into the Hands of the Fj'atck. 



It 



[43l 
It cannot be expedled that private Pcrfons, 
without the Aid of the Legiflature, can long de- 
fend the Country, or fupport the Expence of 
military Preparations. A few Men among us 
have already expended large Sums this Way, 
and can fee no End of it. 

During the late War, they petitioned his Maj- 
efty, fetting forth their Difficulties in this Re- 
fpedl, and the defencelefs State of the Province; 
in which they were countenanced by the Pro- 
prietors, who with great Earneftnefs folicited the 
Matter, and have on every Occafion been zeal- 
ous and adlive for the Defence of the Colony. — 
The Petition was referred to a Committee of the 
Privy-Council and the Lords CommifTioners of 
Trade and Plantations, who reported in favour 
of it. But the Petitioners, at that Time, re- 
ceived no Relief, owing, as they prefume, to the 
other weighty Affairs of Government, which 
then neceifarily engroffed the Attention of his 
Majefty's Minifters. Peace being foon after 
concluded, the Petitioners remained filent, till 
we are now again alarmed with greater and more 
threatning Dangers than ever. Longer Silence 
would be unpardonable, and the fooner the Brit- 
iJJi Nation is acquainted with our State, the more 
Poflibility of Redrefs will remain. 



It 



[44] 
It may be faid, with the greateft Juftice, that 
our Proprietors and our late Governors, have 
done every thing in their Power to aflift us, and 
keep up to an EngliJJi Conftitution ; for which 
they have been reviled, abufed, and all imagina- 
ble Steps taken to hurt them in their Intereft, 
by this perverfe and proudeft of People, who, 
under the Mafk of extraordinary San(5tity and 
Confcience, lord it over their Fellow-Subjedls. 

Whatever be the Confequence, all our Mis- 
fortunes can be charged no where but upon our 
People themfelves, and I have ihewn that it 
would be plainly repugnant to their Intereft to 
remedy Grievances. All Redrefs therefore, muft, 
if it comes, come from his Majefty, and the Brit- 
iJJi Parliament, to whom our diftrefTed and mel- 
ancholy Condition muft be humbly fubmitted. 
If our Cafe is longer overlooked, I ihall foon 
begin to think of returning, to fpend the fmall 
Remainder of my Days in qtiiet with you, and 
to leave my Bones in the Land where I drew 
my firft Breath. Mean while, permit me to 
aflure you, that, 

I am, &c. 
FINIS. 



-B JL '06 



